D GRENVILLE TO THE MARQUIS OF BUCKINGHAM.

Dropmore, Jan. 28th, 1799.
MY DEAREST BROTHER,

I am much more mortified than surprised at the event of the House
of Commons debate on the Union; for though Lord Castlereagh wrote
(as he talked) with confidence, yet one saw very clearly the
elements of ratting. I rejoice to hear that you think the question
recoverable, because I am more than ever of opinion that it must be
tried again and again, till it succeeds. With respect to the person
in whose hands it has failed, I may say to you (in _our_
confidence) that my opinion does not very much differ from yours,
if indeed it does at all. Since he has been in Ireland I have seen
no one trait of that character which I thought he had displayed in
former situations of great difficulty, and for which I still gave
him credit, though a nearer view of his mind had certainly
diminished the impressions which I once entertained on the subject.
Sorry I am to confess that I concurred heartily and eagerly in his
appointment, a measure, my share in which I shall deplore to the
hour of my death, though I certainly have nothing to reproach
myself with on that account, having done conscientiously what I
then thought the best, though I did not, even then, think it so
good as others did.

The question of his removal is, however, a very difficult one
indeed--one of the most embarrassing circumstances attending the
present state of Ireland being, that in that office, above all
others, the effect of change, even from worse to better, is
frequently, if not always, more mischievous than the continuance of
the evil. A violent and precipitate removal just now would, I
think, totally unhinge the Government, and it would, above all,
throw the whole absolutists at the feet of those who _perhaps_ (I
think, _certainly_) need not have been made enemies, but who being
such, must be guarded against as such. Lord Cornwallis never did
like the situation; he accepted it unwillingly, and, to do him
justice, I believe solely from a sense of public duty. Since he has
held it he has experienced nothing but disgusts of every kind, and
mortification in every shape, arising no doubt in a very great
degree from his own misconduct, but not on that account the less
galling to his mind. He can